Be sure to check out the upcoming Classic Album Reviews of Sebadoh’s Smash Your Head on the Punk Rock and Bakesale. Also a review of Animal Collective’s Sung Tongs will be posted shortly. Stay tuned in, turned on, and dropped out!
Magic Kids @ Brighton Music Hall
Opening for Cults on April 1!
Gentleman Jesse and His Men – “Got The Wrong Man”
Two Years Ago Today…
Two years ago today Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States. So, now we are at the halfway point in his prseidential term and having always been a critic of the man, I am long past the point of “I told you so.” Looking back, Election ’08 was the first election where I had a real political consciousness and watching another tyrant slither his way into the White House was pure torment. Admittedly, the election and Obama got everyone energized (including me), but conversely I was not moved by the man’s ubiquitous, but meaningless mantras of “hope” and “change.” Instead I was motivated to combat ignorance, empire building, militarism, and corporate domination- all characteristics of Obama and every other president’s political career. It seems like a few years ago in the Bush era people were semi-united in their repudiation of Bush and everything his administration represented, the public was overwhelmingly against a war they previously had favored, and overall the anti-war movement was much stronger. Then along came Obama and he fucked everything up. People felt Obama was their man and they could relax because every little thing was going to be alright. But, they never stopped to observe his actual policies. During the whole campaign and afterwards I told people that Obama would not provide change unless he was pushed to from the people, but more often than not he would maintain existing conditions and work for the few. This was no secret and in a way you can’t blame him for following through with the polices he campaigned on. He campaigned on hawkish, pro War on Terror (Afghnistan) amongst other high military expenditures and vague time tables for Iraq. It’s weird how when Bush was in office people were far more against the war and then when Obama comes in this anger seems to have dissipated, at least to me. Anti-War activist Cindy Sheehan has noted this decrease as well. My only explanations are Obama’s reign and also the state of the economy. Everyone is focused on their wallets and understanably so. Now, we are halfway through an Obama term in office and the public’s excessive fandom has subsided; it will be interesting to see where the second half of his run will take us and what creatures they have in store for us for the next election- it’s not too far away.
Excellent Italian Greyhound
Shellac’s Todd Trainer expresses his love for his Italian Greyhound, Uffizi. No, this is NOT a beastiality/interspecies erotica video!
Funny Pic of the Day
Black Lips beating their meat. When I saw this on Mark Ronson’s FB page I thought wtf, but cool, but then on Viceland there is a pic of them with the meat…and recording equipment. So somehow the sound of beating meat will be incorporated in the next album. Awesome.
Jay Reatard’s 3 Rules For Getting Out of a Fight
As posted on Death + Taxes (great site):
1. “Man, what?”
Act dumb. Maybe shrug in a vaguely irritated manner. The “Man, what?” response, Reatard claimed, both signifies confusion and a vague air of pacifism that may cause your antagonist to simply lose interest. For real fighters, it’s not much fun to fight someone who won’t fight back.
If he persists, move on to phase two.
2. “Dude said it was cool.”
This both reinforces the pacifist vibe and offloads responsibility onto someone else. Usually the guy provoking you will accuse you of breaking some rule stupid rule that his drunkenness dictates is worth fighting over. “Dude said it was cool” defuses your antagonist’s argument by placing you back in the land of the rule-followers. It was all a misunderstanding. You followed the rules—dude said it was cool. If your red-faced instigator is on the fence but asks which dude specifically, point to someone who looks like he could take the guy.
If he still won’t get out of your face, move on to phase three.
3. “Man…I’m just partyin’.”
If he’s still not letting it go at “Dude said it was cool,” you put your hands up by your chest, equal parts exasperated and clueless, and say “Man…” letting it hang for effect, “I’m just partyin’.” When you’re talking about guys who pick fights at parties, there’s usually some common ground when it comes to worldview. They’re likely to scorn party poopers, and probably respect the will to party. To party is a virtue. With “Man, I’m just partyin’,” you make a friend of your enemy, as if saying, “we’re both in this together” in a way he can appreciate and respect.
Music Video of the Day: Black Flag- TV Party
This is a new segment I just dreamed up literally three minutes ago. As if we don’t have enough “….. of the day” posts, well too bad! here’s another. Whenever I or another KLYAMer feels like it we will post a music video of the day. It should be notable in some way and not just a live performance, an actual music video. Today is Black Flag’s hilarious classic, “TV Party.” Enjoy.
CD Review: The Babies [2011]
Band: The Babies
Release: 02/2011
Label: Shrimper
1. “Run Me Over” – A-
2. “Sunset” – A
3. “All Things Come to Pass” – A-
4. “Meet Me In The City” – A+
5. “Personality” – A-
6. “Breakin the Law” – A-
7. “Sick Kid” – A-
8. “Wild 1” – B+
9. “Wild 2” – A
10. “Caroline” – A-
Comments: The Babies, featuring Cassie Ramone (guitar/vocals Vivian Girls), are like The Beets if The Beets were clearer and were more prone to trying new things. Don’t get me wrong, much props to The Beets for their great music, but this (after all) is the product of musicians who have been making fairly respectable/good music in their own bands for a long while. “Run Me Over” features the coy vocals of Ramone, which sound slightly out of place in an unadulterated garage rock song, but at the same time seem very fitting. Her singing comes out the best on something like “All Things Come to Pass,” which is comfortably in Vivian Girls territory. Kevin Morby of Woods sings when Ramone doesn’t (and sometimes they even harmonize!). He can get his folk on (“Sunset”) or do his best Black Francis at will (“Meet Me In The City”, “Wild 2”). Speaking of “Meet,” it’s truly the best on the record. It’s so catchy! “Wild 2” is sweet through-and-through, like a slowed down “Mr. Grieves” or an old-time Weezer tune or something. Overall, I am very impressed by this band and by this record. It’s quick and very fun. So yeah, good job Babies.
Grade: A- (91)
Why American Idol is Evil
So, the following is an old rant of mine entilted, “Why American Idol is Evil” that I posted on my (and a few other KLAYMERS’) old blog, Wakefield Etudiant about three years ago. I wrote it in a notebook in a matter of 5-10 minutes whilst listening to The Replacements’ Stink EP. Then a few months later, I came across it and posted the basterd. Much to my amusement it received various comments, mostly hateful! lol After that it was posted on a forum or two and garnered even more (negative) comments. People seemed to take it way too seriously. I found it hilarious that readers actually thought I invested time and energy into making some sorta “journalistic endeavour,” when it really was just a written translation of my views on the show and the music industry with some exaggerations and strong language. Looking back at it now, I realize this rant is not my best piece of writing, but it sure is one of my favorites; after all it’s always a delight to piss people off. If I had written this piece today it would probably be different, but at the same time the general position is the same. Ok, so here’s the damn thang:
Music or art for that matter always meant to me, playing from your fucking heart, with no regard for who you offend. Some corporate bithces like to destroy this legacy and sell out for more money and more pussy. Fucke em’ I say. When I see Alice Cooper doing Staples commercials, I shake my head in disapproval, screaming to myself, “What happened to the ‘Parent’s Worst Nightmare,’ what happened to the snakes, the gory, torn apart chickens, ‘No More Mr. Nice Guy,’ and ‘School’s Out For Summer.” Well, I hate to break it you Mr. Cooper, you (and countless others) are “nice guys” and are the parents’ perfect image.
Seriously, it’s like the fucking 80’s again where your parents like the same music you do. Where’s the rebellion? Fuck, the entire nature of Rock and Roll is gone. I mean, don’t get me wrong it’s been dead for a while. Disco took a huge toll on us, MTV melted our brains with intellectually dilute, unimaginative, videos (still does, but videos are even dumber, less creative, and worst of all safer) and of course the 21st Century has brought us the greatest, most unholy, derelict, stain on the music world, none other than… American Idol.
I don’t know where to begin with this fucking show! It is evil, morally incorrect, and worst of all: sugar coated bullshit, fresh fo children of all ages! “Warning! if you like to use your brain or think for yourself and would rather listen to true fucking rebels, please turn your televison off right now. Thank you and may God bless your soul!” This caveat should appear in big fucking bold letters before they air AI (acutally most TV shows for that matter) on Fox and bring their filthy, government approved, pussy, garbage into millions of American Homes.
People always say to me, “come on now Chris, AI isn’t that bad, it gives countless, young , aspiring artists a chance to make it in the big time and millions of people can witness them do what they love on national television…” Fuck that! it assists countless young singers (who are doing the same fucking shit we’ve seen for the past few decades) become even bigger corporate, little bitches; slaves to a machine, that they are sadly oblivious to. When these faggots hop around and do their stupid fucking dances I just want to strangle each and every last one of them.
If Rock meant rebellion, rebelling to “the man,” then AI contestants are sucking the man’s cock and letting his pearly black cum posion millions across the nation, whenever they open their mouths. All artists, whether they are singers or whatever must do it themselves and do what they feel like doing, not what three, dickhead, judges want them to do. I mean can you picture an AI in 1967. Lou Reed sings “Heroin,” I bet Paula would say, “Lou that’s not exactly a safe song.” Or Hendrix out of his mind on acid setting his instrument ablaze. The fat, black guy (shit, what’s his name?), oh yeah, Randy, can you imagine him telling Jimi to put out the fire, cause it may turn off some of our viewers. Now, of course that would have never occurred because those artists had balls. It seriously makes my blodd curdle when I hear that young kids yearn to be big stars on AI. It’s the fucking kiss of death! There’s nothing dangerous or controversial about it and it is a major sign of how we have lost our momentum, ultimately becoming complacent zombies, eager to chow down on the next, fresch crap they have to serve us. Bullshit! Never do we have to accept crap, just because it is popular or because all of our friends adore it. Do a little searching, broaden your horizons and you will discover numerous classic and contemporary artists that always play from their fucking hearts. The music/art I get the biggest hard-ons for, offer me insight and best of all, allow me to think for myself. If you or a loved one enjoy watching AI or even worse want to be on AI (yikes!) please seek help! You are already a sell out, you sold out to yourself.
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 